Every Christopher Nolan Movie Ranked Worst To Best

The Dark Knight Rises has its flaws, and at this point you've heard them all before; the unearned Talia al Ghul twist, the anti-climatic demise of the indomitable Bane, the final shot showing that Bruce Wayne faked his noble sacrifice and finally has the chance to live happily ever after.

But what you've probably heard less of, is how deeply moving Nolan makes Batman's swansong, filling the screen with some of the most powerful images of his career. Here, he dares to tell a story in which Batman is defeated, and the city he loves is torn down by the very evil he swore to fight.

Overlong as it may be, populated by a host of inconsequential side characters, The Dark Knight Rises soars with its almost operatic tragedy, as Bruce Wayne loses everything and must fight his way back to life. Bale has never been better, Tom Hardy is horribly intimidating, and Michael Caine's embattled Alfred steals the show.

All told, The Dark Knight Rises is the kind of great film that is great in spite of its flaws, because its highs -- its emotional speeches, epic fights, bracing action -- are too good to be overshadowed. Not perfect, but still everything it needed to be.